City looks to fix Edmonton’s pothole problems

EDMONTON- If you’ve noticed an increase in the number of potholes in Edmonton’s roads, you’re not alone.

“I think we have a severe problem with potholes,” explained City Councillor Amarjeet Sohi. “As you know and I know, many Edmontonians are frustrated and we need to find a solution and we need to find a solution quickly.”

It’s only the end of February, but the city says Edmonton is already experiencing the worst pothole season in five years.

“We’re seeing deterioration across the city, so it’s not a particular neighbourhood or location, it’s the entire city that is facing this crisis,” said Bob Boutilier, General Manager with the City of Edmonton Transportation Services. “(We) basically have craters, particularly around intersections and heavy use roadways.”

The number of freeze/thaw cycles Edmonton experienced this winter has done a number on the roads. Boutilier says the large windrows piling up on the sides of city streets are a factor, as well.

“You get the melting coming off those snow banks and once it gets into the roadway, if there’s any cracks or deterioration, you get the freezing which then causes the roadway to lift a bit and then it’ll thaw,” he explained.

Mayor Stephen Mandel says a lack of spending in the past may also be a contributing factor.

“Potholes are a fact of life in a city that didn’t spend a whole bunch of money, historically, on its roads,” he explained.

Crews have already been busy patching some of the holes in city streets however, Sohi says some of the roads have deteriorated so badly that patching them is simply no longer a solution. He hopes a reallocation of funds already in the city’s budget will help provide a better answer to Edmonton’s pothole problems.

“We are looking at about $10 million to $12 million (in) additional resources being allocated to a program called grind and overlay, where they come in, grind the surface and repave it, that’s what we need to do,” Sohi explained.

Sohi believes a construction plan will be in place by the time council meets on March 20. The city’s transportation department will be in charge of determining which roads are in need of repaving.

To report a pothole call 311 or file a complaint on the city’s website. The city says it helps if you can provide details on the size and depth of the pothole.

With files from Shane Jones.

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